Table of Contents

Higher Taxon:

Family: Anonaceae-The Custard Apple Family

Description: Asimina (Pawpaw)
The Pawpaw is a small, deciduous tree that may grow 5-10 meters high (Layne, 1996) and exists in clumps or thickets. According to Duncan and Duncan, the trees are typically a "pyrimidal shape, straight trunk, and dark green, long, drooping leaves" (Duncan and Duncan, 1988). Pawpaws exist as either shrubs or trees, with fruits being "irregularly, cylindrical-shaped berries" (Duncan and Duncan, 1988). Asimina is the only member of the Anonaceae family existing in temperate North America, mostly in the southeast, and the others existing in more tropical climates (Takhtajan, 1997).

Members of this species are native to southeastern United States and are often planted as ornamental trees and praised for their sweet, custard-like fruits (The Pawpaw Foundation).

Historical Account:

Asimina was proposed first by Adanson. Most European and American botanists looked to William Bartram's book with specimens and illustrations which were then showing five undescribed species of Asimina(Kral, 1959). Even though most species are limited to the extreme southeastern part of the United States, A. parviflora is found as far north as Virginia and A. trilobaoccurs as far north as southern Michigan and even as far west as Oklahoma (Callaway, 1990).

Miscellaneous Uses:

Extracts of the seeds and bark contain the alkaloids asiminine and analobine and were once used as a type of medicine (Callaway, 1990). More recently, there have been discoveries of another alkaloid, asmicin, which has properties of a pesticide. The highest concentrations are found in bark (Callaway, 1990).

Economic Importance:

The Pawpaw is cultivated for its rich, pulpy, banana-custard-like fruit. The pawpaw is now being developed as a new fruit crop in certain areas of the country. Pawpaw is an excellent food source (Layne, 1996) and is very attractive with its intense tropical flavor and aroma. Click for more about Pawpaw fruit and gardening.